Mrs. Campbell's Third Graders

Look!

2009-08-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

What I Did on my Summer Vacation... Digitally

2009-08-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

To the Lighthouse

Snow White and Rose Red

2009-05-11T10:51:00.001-07:00

by Ravenel, Christian, Erykah, Eva, and Sam

Once upon a time there lived a poor widow with her two daughters. In front of her cottage there were two rose bushes. One had white roses and one had red roses. Her daughters reminded her of the rose bushes, so she named them Snow White and Rose Red.

One cold winter night, they heard a knock at the door. Rose Red ran to the door and opened it. To her surprise, there was not a man knocking, but rather a large shaggy bear.

The girls were afraid, but their mother urged them to invite the bear in. She could see he was wet and cold. “Lie by the fire,” she insisted. He lay down on the hearth and warmed himself by the fire. The girls lost their fear and approached him playfully.

When spring came, the shaggy bear announced that he was leaving. “I must leave now to guard my treasure from gnomes. As the world thaws, their mischief increases.”

The bear caught his fur on the latch and in the tear, Snow White thought she spied the shimmer of gold. With the slam of the door, the bear trotted off and was soon out of sight. Snow White watched through her tears until the bear vanished into the woods.

The next morning after Snow White lit the fire, their mother instructed them to pick some flowers in the woods for their cottage. In the forest, they encountered a gnome three different times. Each time they tried to help him and each time he made way with his treasure.

The third time a bear loped out of the woods and revealed he was not a bear at all, but rather a handsome prince. The treasure was his, and his heart belonged to Snow White. Snow White married the prince and Rose Red married his brother, and they lived happily ever after in a castle with two rose bushes: one red and one white.

We the Children Of Room 204

2009-04-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

Check out this piece of Performance Art that shows what we know!

After Walt Whitman

2009-04-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

We read Walt Whitman today and were inspired to write our own poems.
Click here for the results.

from Song of Myself (from section 1)
By Walt Whitman

I celebrate myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to
You.

I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease… observing a spear of
Summer grass.

After W.B. Yeats

2009-04-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

We read William Butler Yeats today and were inspired to write our 0wn poetry. Click here for the results! We love comments!

Who Goes With Fergus?
William Butler Yeats

Who will go drive with Fergus now,
And pierce the deep wood's woven shade,
And dance upon the level shore?
Young man, lift up your russet brow,
And lift your tender eyelids, maid,
And brood on hopes and fear no more.
And no more turn aside and brood
Upon love's bitter mystery;
For Fergus rules the brazen cars,
And rules the shadows of the wood,
And the white breast of the dim sea
And all dishevelled wandering stars.

New National Poetry Month Poster

2009-04-03T02:35:00.000-07:00

Okay... I admit it. I liked last year's poster better. I am beginning to like the poster for 2009. "Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?" is a line from a poem by T.S. Eliot. A fun thing to do is to take a line from a favorite poet and write your own poem.

Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?

"Do I dare disturb the universe?"
Enhance it?
Chance it?
Amplify and beautify?
Chase and embrace
all that I can see
When I stop to read
Poetry?

Now you try it. Here is another line from the same poem:
"Do I Dare Eat a Peach?"

Happy Birthday Hans Christian Andersen!

2009-04-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hans Christian Anderson was born in Denmark on April 2, 1805. His father was a shoemaker and died while Hans Christian Andersen was still quite young. He went to school for children who were very poor. When he was still quite young, he went to a big city in Demark to find work. He was a singer and a dancer and an actor and a playwright. Oh, and he wrote stories on the side... just for fun.

Those stories are what he is remembered best for today. He considered himself ugly in a world of swans (like an ugly duckling); he often felt like he was on the outside looking in (like a match girl); he felt lonely in his willingness to tell the truth about what he saw (The Emperor's New Clothes).

To honor him today, we read The Emperor's New Clothes. We play a game in our class called "No Answers, Just Questions." Click here to see the questions we came up with.

Welcome to Poetry Month!

2009-04-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

Click Here for Poetry April 1

Shakespeare is Letter Perfect!

2009-02-20T13:01:00.001-08:00

We have had a wonderful time getting to know William Shakespeare and the characters he created in The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Macbeth. We have also been learning about letters, voice, and punctuation. It has been fun! Where there's 'Will,' there's a way! Enjoy reading these letters.

As Scribed by Ravenel:

Dear Prospero,

Meet me in the woods. Leave Miranda with Ferdinand and let them go into the woods by themselves and roam around for awhile while we talk. I was just thinking that Miranda and Ferdinand might get married. I'm just guessing.

Love,

Ariel

Dear Ariel,
I was thinking so, also, about Miranda and Ferdinand. I'm writing with the wind blowing in my face. "I knew I loved him as soon as I gazed into his eyes," she said to me, "Thank you for letting me meet Ferdinand." That's what she said. Tomorrow, I'll meet you.

As Scribed by Kenan:

Dear Prospero,

I have brought Ferdinand to you. I have caused your brother Antonio and the King of Naples misery and have turned myself into a pack of wolves and chased them to you. I hope you appreciate what I've done.

Your Trusty Sprite,
Ariel

Dear Ariel,
Thank you for bringing Ferdinand to me and causing Antonio and the King of Naples misery and for chasing them to me. Because of all that, I grant you your freedom.
Yours Truly,
Prospero

As Scribed By Cece Dauer

Dear Sprites,

I....I mean...we have been freed (except for Caliban). Tomorrow we must meet at the mushroom house. I will bring a wolf skin canvas and a moss blanket and a carpet. Bring berries, fruits, water, bread, wood, and more skins if you have any (don't bring your own doors).

I have a bag of orange berries that we could use to stain the canvas. Please bring wood so we can make a boat. I might bring extra berries for our boat ride. Oh, there are some of Prospero's magic books behind the tree with the violet scratch.

Love,

Ariel

As Scribed by John
Dear Antonio,
I think... I know you should apologize to me! You pushed me AND my own helpless daughter, making it worse, into the perilous, merciless sea. You will come to the Middle Isle. You will know my wrath. I hope you understand my calling... my warning of a tempest.
Sincerely,
Prospero
P.S. Seriously, I will let you forever remember my wrath if you do not restore my place as the Duke of Milan.

As Scribed by Thomas::

Dear Lady Macbeth,
We will kill the king tonight and put the blood on the guards and then you will be the queen and I will be the king. Then we will be rich. And powerful. We will have everything we want forever, and ever, and ever, and ever. I'll see you at the castle tonight. Your face is as white as snow. You are so sweet. And bad. And sweet. We will be the baddest and goodest king and queen.
Love,
Macbeth

As Scribed by James:
Dear Lady Macbeth,
These three ugly witches said I could be king! King of Scotland!

Love,
Macbeth

Dear Macbeth,
The way to be king of Scotland is you got to kill the king Scotland. Come home right away.
Love,
Lady Macbeth

Dear Lady Macbeth,
He is family to me. I will not kill him.
Sincerely,
Macbeth

Dear Macbeth,
You will have to, that is the only way for you to be king of Scotland
Lady Macbeth

As Scribed by Kemonte:

From the Journal of Banquo:

I was riding my horse with Macbeth. I was riding my horse when I saw the witches. It was like I was in a dream, no... it was like I was dead when I saw them. I saw King Duncan dead. I was surprised to see this. Macbeth is wrong about all of this. He is so rude.

As Scribed by Josie:

Dear Oberon,
O my gosh! I fell in love with a human soul! Well, I think I did or it was a dream. It must have been a dream, because I was caught in a fog and woke up from some kind of... I don't know, but it seemed like a dream. The human might have been part ass. I think the fog was real. I n my dream, I ordered my servants to make a flower crown. O and how his singing was lovely. He was so handsome, but it was only a dream.
Love,

Titania

P.S. I hope on my next dream I meet him again, and shrink him to fairy size.

Dear Titania,
He must have been in a dream for there is no more handsome man than I. I will make you have the dream again if you describe him.Love,

Oberon

As Scribed by Arianna

Dear Helena,

I hope your life with Demetrius is good. I am going to a ROYAL ball! I have to get my to get my hair done and get a new dress. I am allowed to bring one guest and his or her escort. I am inviting you and Demetrius. Do you want to go? The ballis Friday at 7:00 PM. It ends at ll:00 PM. Please respond by Thursday.

Sincerely,
Hermia

Dear Hermia,

I would love to go to the ball. You are very sweet for asking me. Demitrius would love to go, too. Is Lysander going? You are my best friend. I am starting my own dress shop. I want to know if you could help me run it?

Sincerely,

Helena

As Scribed by Lenny

Dear Hermia,

I have a plan. we shall flee to the forest, get married, and run away from your father. Do not tell anyone. Please write back.

Lysander

Dear Lysander,

When shall we run away? And I'm sorry, but I told Helena we are going to the forest, but don't you fret. She promised not to tell anyone.

Hermia

Dear Hermia,

I think our escape should be at the crack of dawn, so you father does not lay eyes upon us. Please hurry.

Lysander

Dear Diary,

The mist swirled around us. The clashing of swords banged together. Two men. Two women. Fighting. It began to get quiet. Our eyelids drooped. We fell asleep and awoke in the morn. Two couples. Happy. Loving. Together. It is love.

Hermia

As Scribed by Keyvonna

Dear Lysander,

I thought you were nice when I saw you, When I saw you I thought, "Whew!" But I was too shy. I am running in the woods and I am scared. Help me. Please save me, Lysander. I'm walking, I'm walking. Will I see you?

Hermia

Dear Helena,

Now I am so happy that you like me. I am on my way back to you, so don't walk anymore. If you walk deeper in the woods, you'll never get out. So stop, OK? I don't want to be in the woods. I ususally stay out of the woods. Now where am I?

Worried,

Lysander

As Scribed by Silas

Dear Nick,

You freaked us out! When you came into the clearing, Brrrrrr. It was so freaky! The reason everyone ran was because you had the head of an ass. Please don't turn into donkey-man again! When that happened it ... it just sent a chill down my back.

Sincerely,

Peter

Letter to a Horse

2009-01-23T11:44:00.001-08:00

Dear Ishtar,
I have been reading the encyclopedia. I looked up horses and I learned that China has more has 10,108,000 horses and I learned horses can only see in black, white, yellow, and green. You are an Arabian/American Saddle bred, right?

We’re a team! And you’re going to help me get more champion ribbons. You’re my Sweetie Ishtar. I love you. Here’s the deal, you help me win and you get carrots.

Love,
Cece

Chaucer Travels With Pilgrims

2009-01-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

by Ravenel

Pilgrims gathered with food at the Tabard Inn. They brought licorice, lemonade, meat pies, pretzels, and gingercakes. They rode horses and walked for fifty-eight miles, and told stories as they traveled. Geoffrey Chaucer was with them and wrote down the stories they told. When they got back to the Tabard Inn, they had a big dinner.

Cathedral Draws Pilgims

2009-01-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

by Christian

April, 1386

The Pilgrims, after gathering at the Tabard Inn, are now at Canterbury Cathedral. The cathedral is a place of worship, but it is a loud event! People are buying, selling, trading, and bartering. The people are also praying.

Arriving at Canterbury

2009-01-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

by Kenan

We saw Canterbury Cathedral ahead and our steps started to get faster and faster. We were almost there. The Bells rang as a clock for the peasants in the field. We knew the windows would tell a magnificent story. It was a fantastic sight. We had arrived.

Gathering at the Tabard Inn

2009-01-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

by Josie

Geoffrey Chaucer was chatting at the Tabard Inn with others who planned to go to the cathedral in Canterbury. They formed an excited group and the room seemed warmer than ever. The group had thirty-five people. They packed up for their fifty-eight mile journey. They packed pretzels and licorice for their journey.

London Bridge is Falling Down

2009-01-08T06:39:00.000-08:00

by Lenny
There was only one way to get to the other side of London, and that was...LONDON BRIDGE. There were ar massive amount of shops on London Bridge. Listen: the sounds of horses feet, men laughing and shouting, but... London bridge really was falling down. The workers would add mortor and clay to London Bridge, but London Bridge needed more help than that. One day old London Bridge DID fall down!

Merchants Continue to Sell!

2009-01-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

by Robert

Merchants continue to sell to pilgrims headed for Canterbury even though London Bridge is falling down! The bridge is falling down, but it looks like a festival: pretzel stalls are full and the cheese shops, too!

Rainforest Riddles

2008-12-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

We have been learning about the rainforest as a habitat for animals. We have learned that animals have physical and behavioral adaptations to help them adapt to their environment. Many populations for the community that live in a rainforest. If you leave off the titles you have riddles to tell your friends!

Howler Monkey
by Silas Brown

I have a hollow bone in my neck,
I use the sound in case of danger,
I use strong arms to hold myself up.
Who am I?

Toucan
by Robert Parker

I have a long colorful beak,
I have black feathers,
I use my beak like tweezers.
Who am I?

The Toucan

by Arianna Harbert

I am colorful,

I eat berries,

My jagged beak helps me pick berries.

Who am I?

The Gorilla
by Sam Tarasovic

I have black fur,
I am too big to live in trees,
I hit my chest for protection,
Who am I?

The Jaguar
by Erykah Price

I can swim very well,
I have very sharp teeth,
My fur is fuzzy, yellow and black,
Who am I?

The Jaguar
by Cece Dauer

I am spotted for camouflage,
I have a long tail for speed and balance,
Birds and other animals are my prey,
Who am I?

The Jaguar

by Christian Sherod

I have black and gold fur,

My fur blends with the understory,

I stay still for a long time...

CHOMP! I surprise my prey.

Who am I?

The Jaguar

by Josie Martin

My fur is my camouflage,

My legs help me swim,

I leap from branch to branch,

Who am I?

The Jaguar

by Ravenel Davis

I climb up trees,

I have spots all over,

I have fur that comouflages,

Who am I?

The Iguana

by Autumn Baumgart

I am a reptile,

My skin is scaly,

I am camouflaged,

Who am I?

The Sloth

by Eva Gravely

I have razor-sharp claws,

I have a white snow blanket on my body,

I am very slow...

Who am I?

Free Verse in the Forest

2008-12-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

The Fox
by Silas

Pat, pat; pat, pat;
Yellow Eyes
Running, Shhh!
Snout
Leaping, Woosh
Long legs
Jumping...
Fox

The Bear
by Josie

Slip, slap, zzzzzzz
roar, slap, zzzzzz.
claws, snout, ears,
crawling, pouncing, running, roaring...
Bear.

The Bear
by Li'l Monte

Hibernating, hunting
Black and brown and furry,
Chasing fish,
Black claws, Sharp nails...
Bear.

The Bear
by Robert

Teeth, paws, fur,
growl, rub, scrape, bite...
Bear.

The Robin
by
Arianna

Singing, twittering, flying, laying eggs,
sleeping, looking for food,
sharp feet...
Robin.

The Woodpecker
by Christian

Tap, flutter, swoosh,
tweet, gulp, beak, wings,
long legs, small eyes,
pecking, boaring, flying, gliding...
Woodpecker.

The Owl
by Ravenel Davis

Talons, feathers, yellow eyes,
Hunting, hooting, reaching, screaching...
Owls.

The Rabbit
by Eva

Scurrying, twittering,
leaping, running, bouncing,
shy...
Rabbit.

The Falcon
by
John

Swoosh,
beak, wings, talons,
cutting, clawing,
hunting, swooping...
Predator...
Falcon.

The Raccoon
by Lenny

Black mask,
striped tail,
sharp ears,
rummaging, searching,
nocturnal...
raccoon.

Arctic Analogies

2008-12-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

Today we read Animalogies: a Collection of Animal Analogies. A group has also been working on Who Lives Here? Polar Animals. We combined both books by writing analogies about Polar Animals.

Antler is to caribou as tusk is to Walrus

Whale is to fish as polar bear is to seal.

Fur is to artic fox as waterproof feather is to penguin.

Blubber is to beluga as shaggy fur is to the musk ox.

Fur is to polar bear as feather is to snowy owl.

Hoof is to musk ox as talon is to snowy owl.

Tundra is to caribou as beluga is to Ocean.

Beak is to snowy owl and tusk is to Walrus.

Chick is to penguin and calf is to walrus.

Wing is to penguin and flipper is to walrus.

Reindeer and the Tundra

2008-12-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

Yes, Christmas and Science are related:
Check out his slide show for good information about how reindeer adapt to the tundra.

Reindeer Slide Show

Poetry in Science

2008-12-05T14:06:00.000-08:00

There are patterns in nature and patterns in poetry. How do patterns help animals adapt? Watch this movie to find out.

We've been reading science with our ears tuned to poetry. On Friday morning, a group of children went through nonfiction books and searched for poetic writing. We recorded what we found on post its. When you mix up ten lines of poetry that come from different places it is called a cento. Here is our Science Cento.

Wood boring beetles burrow under the bark..

Many fatten themselves

They don't see the harvest mice scampering under the branches...

The summer moon rises over the hill. A lone coyote howls.
Branches break, limbs splinter, leaves scatter.
A shadow passes over the frog.
A little brown bat dips and dives to snatch moths and mosquitos.
Slowly, a lush green blanket of moss carpets the rotting log
Fruits and nuts abound
Small ants trailing over the ground, bulldozing dry earth into cave and mound.

All About Wetlands

2008-12-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

by Keyvonna, Thomas, Mahmoud, and Kevin

Marshes, swamps, bogs, and ponds are all wetlands. Wetlands are places that are covered with shallow water that is not too deep. Special tall grasses and cattails grow in wetlands because they like wet muddy soil and water. They are important to the animals that live there. These special plants provide food and shelter.

Animals that live in wetlands have physical adaptations that help them survive. Ducks have wide webbed feet that help them swim and waterproof feathers that help them stay warm and dry.

Beavers have wide flat tails to help them steer as they swim. They also very large strong teeth to cut down thick grasses for food and trees for building.

Frogs have strong, strong legs for swimming. The marsh is a perfect environment for the frog, because he can find insects, worms, and even snakes to eat.

A wetland is a habitat for many plants and animals. The next time you are near a pond, walk carefully. You are may be in a community that is home to many populations.

History and Habitat in our Own Backyard!

2008-11-30T07:22:00.000-08:00

The Chesapeake Bay is an aquatic habitat for many animals. You might see turtles, herons, geese, ducks, oysters, eels, and jelly fish. You might even spot a sandbar shark.

One of the most famous creatures in the Chesapeake Bay is the blue crab.

If you look at a map of Virginia, you will see a blue line that runs like a vein from the Bay to the Appalachian Mountains. This is the river that we now call the James. It is six million years old. If you follow the blue line you will see where the river has its slow trickling start in the mountains.

For thousands of years, the male blue crab has tried to follow that blue line; he loves to swim from the Chesapeake Bay up the James River. He does this to get food. His back legs are shaped like paddles to help swim and he uses his two front claws to catch his prey as he travels. He is a good swimmer, but he can’t swim all the way. When he comes to the part of the river where there are lots of rocks, rushing waters, and currents he has to turn around. The currents are very rough and are hard to get through.

In 1607, an explorer and sea captain named Christopher Newport first came to Virginia. He was sent by the King James of England to find riches and to transport settlers who would create a settlement that would claim part of the New World for England. When Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith explored the James River, they did not know what the blue crab knew. They found that, like the crab, their ship could not get past the falls. Like the crab, they turned around and went back towards the Chesapeake Bay. They went back to a place where the James River was much wider than it was at the falls of the James. They created a settlement there and called it Jamestown.

Many years later, a city would be built at the Falls of the James. Can you guess the name of that city? If you are downtown and you look at the James River, you will see lots of rocks and rough currents. You are looking at “The Falls of the James.” Think how different it must have looked to Christopher Newport and John Smith!